Saudi considers building first nuclear power plant
SAUDI ARABIA - Saudi Arabia, the worldÂ’s top oil exporter, is looking at building its first nuclear power plant, an official told an Arabic-language daily.
Minister of Water and Electricity, Abdullah bin Abdul-Rahman Al Husayen, told the Al Watan newspaper: “The kingdom is working on building a pilot plant fuelled by nuclear energy” to generate electricity.
In May FrenchÂ’s Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said Saudi Arabia and France were close to finalizing a civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement. Power demand in the kingdom has surged due to rapid economic growth, and lack of infrastructure to meet its domestic requirements.
Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy, already faces costly power outages of up to five hours a day in the industrial zone of the commercial hub of Jeddah. Last month, Gulf countries took a step towards easing regional power shortages by linking up their electricity grids.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain signed a power trading agreement in July that could start seeing power flow across borders soon. Civilian nuclear power programs are also being explored by a number of Gulf oil exporting countries.
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Alberta gives $40M to help workers transition from coal power jobs
EDMONTON - Alberta is putting aside $40 million to help workers losing their jobs as the province transitions away from thermal coal mines and coal-fired power plants over the next decade.
Labour Minister Christina Gray says the money will top up benefits to 75 per cent of a worker’s previous earnings during the time they collect employment insurance.
Alberta is asking the federal government to not claw back existing benefits as the province tops up those EI benefits, while also extending EI benefits for retiring coal workers.
Gray says even if the federal government does not step up, the province will provide the…
